Wes Welker has played five seasons for the New England Patriots and became their heart and soul with his display of quickness and toughness in every play. He was traded to the Patriots from the Miami Dolphins back in 2007 in exchange for a 7th round pick as well as a 2nd rounder. Starring as the slot receiver, he has also helped on special teams by returning kickoffs and punts. He has played above his contract, but never held out or made public any legitimate conflicts.
The NFL deadline for extending franchised players came and passed today with no resolution in Welker’s contract situation. He will play this upcoming season under the $9.5 million dollar franchise tag. There is nobody who will complain about the amount of money he will receive this season, but Welker, in my opinion, had earned the three-to- four-year pact he was seeking. In a sport where an injury can derail a career at any second, Welker played with reckless abandon for the Patriots and deserves better.
Welker has asked for $20 million guaranteed and if the Patriots can give him a three-year deal, Welker should continue to be productive barring an unforeseen injury. Based on the history of his previous seasons, Welker has done nothing to show the Patriots’ front office, he is slowing down. He even caught a 99-yard touchdown pass in the season opener against the Dolphins last year.
Welker caught 111 passes with Matt Cassel tossing passes in the 2008 season because Tom Brady tore his ACL in the season-opening 17-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. There has been debate whether Welker should’ve caught the ball in the Super Bowl XLVI defeat to the New York Giants, but Welker has been so effective inside over these past five seasons that one play should not warrant whether Welker receives an extension.
The Patriots recently overpaid left guard Logan Mankins who held out in a contract dispute back in the 2010-11 season. Mankins was rewarded for doing things the “UnPatriot” way which is complaining publicly and criticizing the owner Robert Kraft about his lack of progress in contract negotiations. Welker on the other hand has not said a word other than slipping up and saying the contract talks had “gotten worse,” but then backing off those statements later.
The Patriots will be perfectly fine if Welker doesn’t return after this season, but there is something to be said for having a proven veteran who has always put the team first. Welker came back from a torn ACL injury in roughly half the time (six months) it takes most players. He is a leader and one of Brady’s go-to-receivers on and off the field. Hopefully, the Patriots save face and reward a player who most certainly earned a bigger deal.